Answering 20 Questions About the Titans’ Upcoming Season

One year after starting over, the Tennessee Titans head into the 2025 season looking to … well, start over once again.

Head coach Brian Callahan returns for a second year, spared the hungry ax of Titans controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk despite winning just three of 17 games in his first season. Some of the Titans’ top talents are back as well, players like receiver Calvin Ridley, running back Tony Pollard and defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons.

But there has been plenty of organizational overhaul after last year’s dreadful campaign, starting near the top, where Mike Borgonzi took over as general manager following the firing of Ran Carthon.

As of late August, when the Titans were winding down training camp, the team’s 90-player roster featured 52 players who weren’t with Tennessee last year — 40 signed free agents, nine drafted prospects and three players acquired off the NFL’s waiver wire.

The highest-profile of those new players is Cam Ward, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft and the Titans’ starting quarterback. He provides hope, but there are still many unproven players and unanswered questions overall for the Titans, as the team seeks to find its way back to respectability after posting a combined record of 16-35 over the past three years.

In other words, don’t expect miracles right away.

“Nobody wants to hear that word, ‘patience,’” Titans president of football operations Chad Brinker told reporters in July. “I get that. But the reality is we understand where we are as a roster. We got a lot of work to do. And we’re going to be relying on a lot of young players this season to carry this football team.”

How then will success be defined in 2025?

“It’s hard to really define, you know, if you’re asking me what success looks like in 2025,” Brinker said. “I think that’s for [reporters] to write about. I do want to see our football team improve, from day to day to week to week. … I just want to see this team get better.”

Here are 20 Titans questions as the team readies for its season opener Sept. 7 in Denver.

1. What’s the biggest reason for Titans excitement after a 3-14 season?

There wasn’t much about 2024 to look back upon fondly for Titans fans, as the team lost its last six games and finished with the worst record in the league.

The good news is that the NFL — along with all other major pro sports leagues — gives bad teams a break via the league’s draft. So the Titans’ wretchedness was rewarded with the opportunity to make the No. 1 overall pick — something the team had done only twice before, in 1973 and 1978, when the franchise was located in Houston.

By selecting Ward out of the University of Miami, the Titans made it clear they are expecting him to become the face of the franchise for years to come. If that comes to pass, the Titans will have never been happier about recording an awful season.

2. What should we know about Cam Ward?

Ward is a chip-on-the-shoulder winner, an unheralded high school player who received just one Division I college scholarship offer — from the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas. 

He played there for two seasons, transferred to Washington State for two seasons and ended his college career as a star at Miami in 2024. There, Ward led the nation with 39 touchdown passes, set the school’s single-season record with 4,313 passing yards and was named a Heisman Trophy finalist.

Ward has a strong, accurate arm, and he does not lack confidence. In the midst of a pre-draft workout for the Titans, Ward surprised team executives on hand by telling them he was simply solidifying himself as their No. 1 pick.

3. What are national analysts saying about Cam Ward?

The Athletic’s Dane Brugler called Ward “a loose, instinctive passer who can rip accurate strikes with a natural rhythm to his play. With his talent and intangibles, he projects as an NFL starter in the mold of a taller, slower version of [the Arizona Cardinals’] Kyler Murray.” NBC Sports’ Chris Simms said he saw Ward make “a lot of high-level, ‘wow’ throws [in college]. His ability to throw on the run is elite. He’s always calm and cool. When he wants to throw a rocket, he can find another gear in his arm.”

The NFL Network’s Bucky Brooks praised Ward’s talent and his toughness, calling him “a big-time player. He’s been a baller at every level. … He has a track record of success, which makes you feel like he’s going to continue when he has a chance in the league.”

4. Who’s new in the Titans’ front office this year?

There’s a new man in the general manager’s role, as Borgonzi replaced Carthon, who was fired after just two years. Borgonzi will serve as the organization’s primary point man on all personnel decisions, guiding the team in the NFL Draft and in free agency. He comes from Kansas City, where the Chiefs won three Super Bowls during his tenure.

Borgonzi ultimately made the decision to draft Ward, opting against trading out of the No. 1 spot. One of his predecessors, Jon Robinson, had chosen the latter route in 2016.

5. Who’s new on the coaching staff this year?

The biggest change came at special teams coordinator, where the beleaguered Colt Anderson was replaced by longtime NFL veteran John “Bones” Fassel, the son of former New York Giants head coach Jim Fassel.

It takes just one look at the high-energy, low-body-fat Fassel for one to understand his nickname. He’ll be tasked with overhauling a Titans special teams squad that — with the exception of departed kicker Nick Folk — was wretched last season.

Other new coaches include: defensive passing game coordinator/cornerbacks coach Tony Oden; defensive run game coordinator Travis Smith; and tight ends coach Luke Stocker, who was promoted from assistant tight ends coach.

6. Who were the Titans’ biggest offensive free agents added during the offseason?

The team’s most significant additions weren’t necessarily of the sexy, attention-grabbing variety. Instead, the Titans chose to bolster an offensive line that leaked badly last season, making life hazardous for the team’s quarterbacks.

Tennessee signed left tackle Dan Moore to a four-year, $82 million contract and right guard Kevin Zeitler to a one-year, $9 million deal. The Titans gave Ward a veteran receiver by signing Tyler Lockett to a one-year, $4 million contract, and added a veteran backup quarterback by signing Brandon Allen to a one-year, $1.4 million deal.

7. Who were the Titans’ biggest defensive free agents added during the offseason?

Similar to the team’s strategy on offense, the Titans didn’t land headline names for the defense, choosing instead to add a handful of smart, durable veterans.

Inside linebacker Cody Barton (three-year, $21 million deal) is a tackling machine who’s also shown a knack for the occasional interception. Edge rusher Dre’Mont Jones (one-year, $8.5 million) recorded 45 quarterback pressures last season. Safety Xavier Woods (two years, $10 million) brings plenty of experience to complement returning starter Amani Hooker.

8. Which offseason departure will hurt the most?

When a team wins just three of 17 games, the argument can be made that very few personnel departures would count as significant. The exception here is likely edge rusher Harold Landry, who was a huge part of the defense for six years, averaging 10.5 sacks during the past three seasons.

Landry left during free agency, choosing to reunite with former Titans head coach Mike Vrabel, who’s now guiding the New England Patriots.

9. Which draft picks (besides Ward) are the most exciting this season?

Tight end Gunnar Helm looks like a leading candidate for that role. A late bloomer at the University of Texas, the 6-foot-5, 241-pound Helm made huge strides during his 2024 senior season, when he caught 60 passes and scored seven touchdowns. He impressed during the Titans’ preseason, making a highlight touchdown catch against Atlanta. Helm has shown soft pass-catching hands and an ability to make receptions through contact.

Don’t sleep on Elic Ayomanor either, as the 6-foot-2, 206-pound wide receiver from Stanford combines good size with an ability to get open. Wide receiver Chimere Dike offers serious speed, as the former Florida standout ran the 40-yard dash in 4.34 seconds at the NFL Scouting Combine in March.

10. Whatever happened to Will Levis anyway?

It was just a year ago that Will Levis was heading into the 2024 season as the Titans’ unquestioned starting quarterback. He’d earned the spot with a solid rookie showing in 2023, when he replaced former starter Ryan Tannehill.

But Levis ran into difficulties early in the 2024 season. He suffered a shoulder injury that never completely healed, surrendered far too many turnovers and was eventually replaced by Mason Rudolph. 

Things got even stranger during the past offseason. Levis participated in all of the team’s offseason practices and minicamp before deciding — just before the start of training camp — that he would undergo shoulder surgery. He’ll miss the entire 2025 season, which will leave Levis under contract for one more year when he returns in 2026.

11. Which 2024 Titans issue must be corrected in 2025?

There are plenty of options from which to choose, as the 2024 Titans struggled to defend opponents’ running games, took the second-most penalties in the NFL and turned the ball over at a higher rate than any other team.

But the single biggest priority for the Titans, in large part because the team has such high hopes for Ward, is doing a better job protecting the passer. Tennessee surrendered 52 sacks last season — a tie for fifth-most in the NFL. That was actually an upgrade from 2023, when the Titans saw their quarterback taken down 65 times.

Still, if the Titans want to watch Ward work his magic on Sundays this season, they’d better find a way to make sure he’s not running for his life on a regular basis.

12. What is the Titans’ greatest strength?

The most likely choice to answer this one is the Titans’ interior defensive line, which features the 6-foot-5, 305-pound Simmons (who’s earned Pro Bowl honors in three of the past four years) lined up next to 6-foot-4, 366-pound T’Vondre Sweat, who wreaked havoc on offensive lines as a rookie last season.

Simmons recorded a career-high 76 tackles last season, while Sweat was rated one of the NFL’s best rookies at his position.

Additionally, veterans like Sebastian Joseph-Day and Carlos Watkins bring experienced muscle at this position.

13. What is the Titans’ greatest weakness?

The Titans are not especially deep, nor especially talented, at the edge rusher position, which is counted on to pressure and sack opposing quarterbacks.

Tennessee recorded just 32 sacks last season, tied for the third-fewest in the league. Combine that with the fact that Landry, who led the Titans with nine sacks in 2024, is now in New England. Simply doing the math, Tennessee looks like a team that will struggle to make life difficult for enemy quarterbacks like Patrick Mahomes, Matt Stafford, Kyler Murray, C.J. Stroud and Justin Herbert this year.

14. How many games are the Titans forecast to win in 2025?

An optimist would say oddsmakers believe the Titans will win more games this year than last. A pessimist would say that’s a low bar.

Fox Sports, FanDuel Sportsbook and DraftKings Sportsbook have all set the over/under line for Titans’ victories in 2025 at 6.5, allowing bettors to wager on the team finishing with more or less wins than that figure. A couple of other gambling outlets — BetMGM and Caesars — are less enthusiastic, setting the over/under line for Titans’ victories this season at just 5.5.

ESPN’s Mike Clay predicted the Titans to win at least six games this season. 

15. Do the Titans have a prayer of making the playoffs?

Only four NFL teams — the New York Giants, the New York Jets, the Cleveland Browns and the New Orleans Saints — have worse betting odds of qualifying for the playoffs in 2025 than the Titans, per ESPN.

But there’s always hope in the NFL. In each of the past 35 seasons, at least four teams have reached the postseason after missing out the previous year. Seven teams accomplished that feat in 2020 and 2021, six in 2022 and 2023, and four last season — Minnesota, Washington, Denver and the Los Angeles Chargers.

In addition, at least one NFL team — in all but three years since 2002 — has gone from worst in its division one season to first the next season.

So there’s a chance — just not a very realistic one.

16. Which Titans game(s) should we be circling on the calendar?

It’s hard to imagine a more intriguing game than Oct. 19, when the Titans play host to New England in Week 7. The Patriots in January hired Vrabel as the team’s head coach — about a year after the Titans fired him. Vrabel had spent six years coaching Tennessee, leading the Titans to a 54-45 record and three playoff berths.

Don’t you just know that Vrabel, who has numerous former Titans coaches and players with him in New England, would like nothing better than to whip his former team on its home turf — in front of the owner who fired him?

17. Which game this season are the Titans most likely to win?

In past years, it was always easy to say Jacksonville or Houston, as the Titans regularly beat up those two AFC South opponents for long stretches. But times have changed in the division, where the Titans finished in last place in 2024.

A better guess might be the Titans’ Week 17 opponent, the New Orleans Saints, who come to Nashville on Dec. 28. The Saints were bad last year (5-12) and may be worse in 2025, as the team’s quarterback is likely to be either Spencer Rattler (0-6 record as a starter) or rookie Tyler Shough.

18. Which game this season are the Titans least likely to win?

The easy answer is probably Kansas City in Week 16, as the Chiefs have won three of the past six Super Bowls and are led by Mahomes, who almost always finds a way to emerge victorious.

But the Titans will at least have home field advantage in that Dec. 21 contest, which should prove a boost — unless Tennessee fans choose to side with Taylor Swift, who might be at the stadium to support her fiancé, Kansas City tight end Travis Kelce.

What may prove an even bigger challenge is Week 1 at Denver, where the Titans will play in a traditionally raucous environment that should be emotionally charged for a season opener. The Broncos were one of the NFL’s big surprises last year, reaching the playoffs behind rookie quarterback Bo Nix, and the team has a vicious pass rush to boot. 

19. What Titans road game should I attend?

It’s tempting to go with that Titans’ opener in Denver, when Ward will presumably be making his NFL regular season debut in the Mile High City.

But there are simply too many reasons to prefer Week 6, when the Titans head west to face the Las Vegas Raiders. First, it’s Las Vegas, so you’re pretty much guaranteed to have fun even if the Titans lose. Second, it’s an opportunity to root against Tom Brady, Mr. Perfect, who owns a 5 percent share (10 percent if his business partner is included) of the Raiders. Third, the contest represents a chance to check out Allegiant Stadium, which is one of the sites the Titans paid close attention to when planning the new Nissan Stadium. 

20. How many times will we see the Titans appear in prime time this year?

As of this moment, the answer is zero — for the first time since 2011. 

The networks chose not to give the No. 1 overall draft pick a single appearance, apparently deciding the team’s small fan base and its bad record last year were simply too unappealing for the national palate.

The Titans, Browns and Saints are the only three teams who weren’t given a prime-time contest this year.

But if the Titans play well, they might still push themselves into the spotlight. The NFL can alter game times starting in Week 5, giving promising teams a chance to win their way into prime time. As one NFL executive said in May, the Titans have “the same opportunity every other team has to play their way into a national window.”